Sliding conversation mirror assembly with magnetic assist for vehicle overhead console

ABSTRACT

A vehicle overhead console is provided which includes a conversation mirror assembly having a housing defining a storage space for storing a conversation mirror. The conversation mirror may travel between a stowed and a use position. The conversation mirror is releasably secured to the stored and use positions by way of magnetic, tab, and spring arrangements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle overhead consoles,and more particularly relates to a vehicle overhead console equippedwith a conversation mirror.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive vehicles are commonly equipped with a rearview mirror thatenables drivers view the road behind the vehicle. While rearview mirrorsare typically positioned to provide a view of roadside conditions behindthe vehicle, there may exist instances where a driver desires to viewthe back seat portion of the vehicle such as checking on young childrenor engaging occupants sitting in the rear seating area of the passengercompartment. In these scenarios, a driver must either reposition therearview mirror or turn around, both of which may create an unsafedriving condition. For these and other types of vehicle use scenarios,it may be desirable to provide a conversation mirror that provides aview of the backseat area without obstructing the rearview mirror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle conversationmirror assembly is provided. The conversation mirror assembly includes ahousing defining a storage space and a conversation mirror. The vehicleconversation mirror also includes a slider mechanism operatively coupledto the conversation mirror to move the conversation mirror between astowed position within the storage space and a use position extendingfrom the housing. The vehicle conversation mirror further includes amagnetic arrangement in communication with the slider mechanism toattract the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle overheadconsole is provided that includes a housing defining a storage space anda conversation mirror. The vehicle overhead console also includes aslider mechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to movethe conversation mirror between a stowed position within the storagespace and a use position extending from the housing. The overheadconsole further includes a magnetic arrangement in communication withthe slider mechanism to attract the conversation mirror to one of thestored and use positions.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a is a perspective view of a vehicle passenger compartmenthaving an overhead console employing a vehicle conversation mirrorassembly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing theconversation mirror in a downward deployed use position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing theconversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the conversation mirror assembly employingfriction tabs, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the downward deployed useposition;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through line VI-VI of FIG. 5showing frictional tab engagement in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly ofFIG. 4 shown in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through line IX-IX of FIG. 8showing frictional tab engagement;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 11 is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing amagnetic arrangement according to another embodiment with theconversation mirror in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the conversation mirror assembly shown inFIG. 11 with the conversation mirror shown in the upward stowedposition;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing aspring arrangement according to a further embodiment with theconversation mirror shown in the downward deployed use position; and

FIG. 14 is a front view of the conversation mirror of FIG. 13 showingthe conversation mirror in the upward stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the passenger compartment of an automotivevehicle 2 is generally illustrated having a vehicle overhead console 10generally located on the front portion of the interior roof 4 betweenthe driver and front passenger seats. The overhead console 10 isgenerally rearward of and above the conventional interior rearviewmirror 6 so as not to interfere with viewing of the rearview mirror 6.The overhead console 10 may be connected to the underside of a vehicleheadliner or roof 4 and may include various components such as one ormore storage compartments, light assemblies, user input switches, andother vehicle assemblies. The overhead console 10 is equipped with aconversation mirror assembly 20 that includes a conversation mirror 18that may be stowed in a stowed position within the overhead console 10and deployed to a use position extending vertically downward below theoverhead console 10 to allow a driver or front seat passenger to viewthe area rearward of the front seat in the passenger compartment such asthe rear seating area.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the overhead console 10 includes a housing12 which defines a storage space 14 and is located to provide generallyunobstructed view of the rearview mirror. The storage space 14 containsa slider mechanism 16 capable of moving the conversation mirror 18between an upward stowed position as shown in FIG. 3 and a downward useposition with respect to the opening of the storage space 14 as shown inFIG. 2. The conversation mirror 18 is operatively connected or securedto the slider mechanism 16 to allow the conversation mirror 18 to movebetween the upward stowed position and downward use position. Apassenger, such as the driver of the vehicle is able to view the backseat portion of the vehicle when the slider mechanism 16 andconversation mirror 18 are deployed in the downward use position. A usermay manually actuate the conversation mirror 18 upward to the stowedposition by applying upward force and may deploy the conversation mirrordownward to the use position by applying downward force. To transitionbetween the stowed and use positions, the vehicle conversation mirror 18employs the slider mechanism 16 and further employs a couplingarrangement to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the stowed and usepositions.

The conversation mirror 18 has a reflective or mirrored surface thatprovides a wide viewing angle such as to enable a person seated in afront seat to view of the back seating area of the vehicle. According toone embodiment, the conversation mirror 18 has a curved convex shape.The conversation mirror 18 is shown having an elongated length and arelatively smaller height to as to prevent interference of theconventional interior rearview mirror 16 for viewing of objects rearwardof the vehicle. It should be appreciated that the conversation mirror 18may have other shapes and sizes, according to other embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 4-10, the coupling arrangement is shown in oneembodiment employing a tab arrangement that releasably secures thesliding mechanism 16 and the conversation mirror 18 in either the useposition or the stowed position. The conversation mirror assembly 20includes a housing member 30 fixedly connected to or formed as part ofthe housing 12 and defining a storage space 14 for receiving theconversation mirror 18 in the stowed position. The housing member 30includes a pair of male members 28 each adapted to slideably engage aslot formed by a pair of vertical extending rails 26. The male members28 may each include a vertical extending bar or one or more pins. Theconversation mirror assembly 20 further includes a slider mechanism 16operatively coupled to the conversation mirror 18. The slider mechanism16 includes the two pairs of rails 26 configured to receive members 28and allows the conversation mirror 18 to be guided between the upwardstowed position and the downward use position. The slider mechanism 16includes a bracket 34 that may extend on the rear side of theconversation mirror 18 and extend thereabove with the two pairs of rails26 extending above the conversation mirror 18. As such, the slidermechanism 16 attaches to the conversation mirror 18 via the bracket 34.In such an arrangement, the slider mechanism 16 extends vertical intothe storage space 14.

The tab arrangement includes a plurality of friction engaging tabs, suchas snap tabs, that frictionally engage one another to hold theconversation mirror 18 in one of the upward stowed position and downwarduse position. The tabs include a first plurality of tabs 40, 42 and 44shown provided on the housing member 30 and extending inward intostorage space 14. Tab 40 is located near the top of the housing member30 central between lateral sides and tabs 42 and 44 are located near thebottom of housing 30 near opposite sides. The plurality of tabs furtherincludes a second plurality of tabs 50, 52 and 54 provided on thebracket 34 of slider mechanism 16. Certain of the first plurality oftabs 40, 42 and 44 are arranged to interface with and frictionallyengage certain of the second plurality of tabs 50, 52 and 54 to hold theconversation mirror 18 in one of the use and stowed positions.

Additionally, the conversation mirror assembly 20 includes a protectivecover 32 disposed within storage space 14. The cover 32 shown formed asa curved sheet acts as a protective cover when the conversation mirror18 is positioned in the upward stowed position such that theconversation mirror 18 is located rearward of cover 32.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5-7, the conversation mirror 18 isshown in the downward deployed use position in which the conversationmirror 18 extends below the overhead console and allows for the vehicledriver or passenger in the front seat to view an area rearward of thefront seat within the passenger compartment. In the downward position,tabs 52 and 54 on the bracket 34 frictionally engage tabs 42 and 44,respectively, on the inside of the housing member 30. The frictionalengagement of the matingly engaged tabs 42, 44, 52 and 54 holds theconversation mirror 18 in place relative to the housing member 30sufficient to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the use positiondespite dynamic forces experienced on the vehicle. The frictionalengagement of the matingly engaged tabs may be achieved by a snap-fitarrangement. For each pair of matingly engaged pairs of tabs, one tabmay have a tooth 45 that engages a depression or notch 55 in the otherof the engaged pairs of tabs. Other frictional mating engageable shapesand sizes of tabs may be employed to hold the conversation mirror 18 isthe use and stowed positions. The frictional engagement of the matinglyengaged tabs may be overcome by a force whereby a user may disengage thematingly engaged tabs to allow the conversation mirror to slidevertically up from the downward deployed use position.

With particular reference to FIGS. 8-10, the sliding conversation mirrorassembly 20 is shown with the conversation mirror 18 in the upwardstowed position. The conversation mirror 18 is moved upward by a userapplying force vertically upward to allow the bracket 34 of slidermechanism 16 to slide on its two pairs of rails 26 which engage members28 until the frictional tab 50 on bracket 34 frictionally engages tab 40on housing member 30 so as to lock the sliding members into frictionalengagement to hold conversation mirror 18 in the upward stowed position.The frictional engagement of tabs 40 and 50 is sufficient to prevent theconversation mirror 18 from dropping downward due to gravity or dynamicforces that are normally experienced with the vehicle. Tabs 40 and 50may likewise be configured with one tab having a tooth 45 that engages adepression or notch 55 in the other tab. The frictional engagementbetween tabs 40 and 50 may be overcome by a force whereby a user maydisengage the mating engagement of the tabs by pulling the conversationmirror 18 downward with a sufficient force to overcome the frictionalengagement. The tab may be made of a polymeric material that flexes toallow movement between matingly engaged tabs such that the tooth 45 maymove into and out of engagement with the notch 55.

Furthermore, release and return mechanisms may be used to dislodge theslider mechanism 34 and conversation mirror 18 from the stored and usepositions. A release mechanism may include a leverage device to leveragethe slider mechanism out of frictional engagement with the housingmember. Such mechanisms may include electrical activated and manualactivated mechanism and may employ a spring to bias the slide mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second embodiment of a couplingarrangement in the form of a magnetic arrangement is shown forpositioning the conversation mirror 18 in the stowed and use positions.In this embodiment, a slider mechanism 16 with bracket 34 operativelycoupled to conversation mirror 18 two pairs of vertically extendingrails 26 matingly engaging male members 28 in housing member 30 may beemployed as described in with connection with the assembly of FIG. 4 toallow the conversation mirror 18 to slide vertically upward and downwardbetween stowed and use positions. In this embodiment, the couplingarrangement employs magnetic attraction to hold the conversation mirror18 in one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. Themagnetic arrangement is employed to attract and secure the slidermechanism 34 and conversation mirror 18 to the upward stowed positionwithin the storage space 14 and the use position extending downward fromthe housing member 30. The magnetic arrangement includes a firstmagnetic portion 60 operatively coupled to the housing member 30 nearthe top thereof and a second magnetic portion 62 operatively coupled tothe housing member 30 near a bottom side thereof, according to oneembodiment. In one embodiment, a ferrous member 64 is operativelycoupled to the conversation mirror 18 and is magnetically attracted tothe magnetic portions 60, 62. The magnetic portions may each include oneor more magnets that attract to a ferrous material. The ferrous member64 may be located on the bracket 34 or on the conversation mirror 18.The ferrous member 64 is disposed to magnetically attract to one of thefirst and second magnetic portions 60 and 62. When the conversationmirror 18 is moved to the upward stowed position, the ferrous member 64attracts to magnetic portion 60 to hold the conversation mirror 18 inthe upward stowed position during normal vehicle motion. The magneticattraction between the magnetic portion 60 and ferrous material 64 maybe overcome a user applying sufficient force to pull the conversationmirror 18 downward to the use position. In the use position, themagnetic portion 62 attracts to the ferrous portion 64 to hold theconversation mirror 18 in the downward use position during normalvehicle motion. The magnetic attraction between magnetic portion 62 andferrous member 64 may be overcome by a user applying sufficient force topush the conversation mirror 18 vertically upward to its stowedposition. The magnetic attraction is sufficient to hold the conversationmirror 18 in the use or stowed positions despite forces experiencedduring normal operation of the vehicle. While the magnetic portions 60and 62 are shown and described as provided on the housing member 30 andthe ferrous member is provided on the conversation mirror 18, it shouldbe appreciated that the magnetic portions 60 and 62 may be provided onthe conversation mirror 18 or bracket 34 and that the ferrous member 64may be provided on the housing member 30.

The magnetic portions 60 and 62 may include magnets that attract to aferrous material. Each magnet may include a single magnet or a pluralityof magnets. The ferrous member 64 may be provided on the back surface ofthe conversation mirror 18 or may be provided on a member of the slidermechanism 16, such as the bracket 34 which, in turn, is coupled to theconversation mirror 18. By employing the attraction force between themagnets and the ferrous material, a smooth movement of the bracket 34and the conversation mirror 18 is achieved relative to the housing 20,without requiring a latch mechanism.

In one embodiment, the slider mechanism 16 includes two pairs of rails26 each for engaging a male member 28 such as a bar or one or more pinsto allow the bracket to matingly slide relative to the housing.According to other embodiments, other pins or connectors or matinglyengaging sliding mechanisms may be employed to allow the conversationmirror 18 to move vertically between the downward use position and theupward stowed position. It should further be appreciated that a releaseand return mechanism may be employed to dislodge the bracket 34 andconversation mirror 18 from the stowed and use positions. Such mechanismmay include electrical and manual means.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a third general embodiment of theconversation mirror assembly 20 is shown having a spring arrangementthat releasably secures the slider mechanism 16 and conversation mirror18 in the use and stowed positions. There exist many types of springarrangements suitable for the abovementioned application, which mayinclude compression, extension, and torsion spring types. In the instantembodiment, the spring arrangement includes a torsion spring 70 operablycoupled to the housing member 30 at end 72 and to the bracket 34 at end74, wherein moving the bracket 34 and conversation mirror 18 to thestowed position stores rotational energy in the spring's windings thatare released once the conversation mirror 18 moves to the use position.The spring 70 may include an over center spring that bias theconversation mirror 18 to one of the upward stowed position and downwarduse position. In doing so, the slider mechanism 16 slides on the pairsof rails 26 and male guide members 28 as described above. Once theslider mechanism 16 crosses over center, the spring 70 biases thebracket 34 and conversation mirror 18 to one of the upward stowedposition and downward use position.

Movement between the use and stowed positions may be facilitated by anyof the means described in previous embodiments in addition to othersuitable means not described herein. Similar to previous embodiments, arelease and return mechanism may be used to dislodge the conversationmirror 18 from the stowed and use positions, which may includeelectrical and manual means.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structures without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

We claim:
 1. A conversation mirror assembly comprising: a housingprovided in an overhead console and defining a storage space having malemembers therein; a slider mechanism movable between a stowed positionwithin the storage space and a use position extending from the housing,and comprising: a conversation mirror; and slotted rails for slideablyengaging the male members; and a magnetic arrangement to attract theslider mechanism to one of the stowed and use positions.
 2. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the magneticarrangement comprises a first magnet coupled to a top portion of thehousing and a second magnet coupled to a lower portion of the housing.3. The conversation mirror assembly of claim 2, further comprising aferrous member coupled to one of the slider mechanism and theconversation mirror, wherein the ferrous member is disposed tomagnetically attract to the first magnet when the slider mechanism is inthe stowed position and is disposed to magnetically attract to thesecond magnet when the slider is in the use position.
 4. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the magneticarrangement comprises a magnet coupled to one of the slider mechanismand the conversation mirror and at least one ferrous member coupled tothe housing, wherein the at least one ferrous member is disposed tomagnetically attract to the magnet when the slider mechanism is in oneof the stowed position and the use position.
 5. The conversation mirrorassembly of claim 1, wherein the male members extend vertically withinthe storage space, and wherein the slider mechanism moves verticallywithin the storage space to extend the conversation mirror downwardwithin a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
 6. The vehicle overheadconsole of claim 5, wherein the male members comprise a pair of barsthat are oppositely disposed inside the storage space and are eachconfigured to slideably engage a corresponding slotted rail of theslider mechanism.
 7. The vehicle overhead console of claim 1, whereinthe conversation mirror is separate and distinct from a rearview mirrorand is positioned forward of the rearview mirror when the conversationmirror is viewed from a passenger seated in a passenger compartment. 8.The vehicle overhead console of claim 1, further comprising a protectivecover separate from the housing and disposed within the storage space,wherein the protective cover is shaped to cover the conversation mirrorwhen the slider mechanism is in the stowed position.
 9. A conversationmirror assembly comprising: a housing provided in an overhead consoleand defining a storage space having vertically extending male memberstherein; a slider mechanism movable between a stowed position within thestorage space and a use position extending from the housing, andcomprising: a conversation mirror; and slotted rails for slideablyengaging the male members; and a magnetic arrangement to attract theslider mechanism to one of the stowed and use positions.
 10. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the magneticarrangement comprises a first magnet coupled to a top portion of thehousing and a second magnet coupled to a lower portion of the housing.11. The conversation mirror assembly of claim 10, further comprising aferrous member coupled to one of the slider mechanism and theconversation mirror, wherein the ferrous member is disposed tomagnetically attract to the first magnet when the slider mechanism is inthe stowed position and is disposed to magnetically attract to thesecond magnet when the slider is in the use position.
 12. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the magneticarrangement comprises a magnet coupled to one of the slider mechanismand the conversation mirror and at least one ferrous member coupled tothe housing, wherein the at least one ferrous member is disposed tomagnetically attract to the magnet when the slider mechanism is in oneof the stowed position and the use position.
 13. The vehicle overheadconsole of claim 9, wherein the male members comprise a pair of barsthat are oppositely disposed inside the storage space and are eachconfigured to slideably engage a corresponding slotted rail of theslider mechanism.
 14. The vehicle overhead console of claim 9, whereinthe conversation mirror is separate and distinct from a rearview mirrorand is positioned forward of the rearview mirror when the conversationmirror is viewed from a passenger seated in a passenger compartment. 15.The vehicle overhead console of claim 9, further comprising a protectivecover separate from the housing and disposed within the storage space,wherein the protective cover is shaped to cover the conversation mirrorwhen the slider mechanism is in the stowed position.
 16. A conversationmirror assembly comprising: a housing provided in an overhead consoleand defining a storage space having vertically extending male memberstherein; a slider mechanism movable between a stowed position within thestorage space and a use position extending from the housing, andcomprising: a conversation mirror; and slotted rails for slideablyengaging the male members; and a magnetic arrangement comprising: afirst magnet coupled to a top portion of the housing to attract theconversation mirror to the stowed position; a second magnet coupled to alower portion of the housing to attract the conversation mirror to theuse position; and a ferrous member coupled to one of the slidermechanism and the conversation mirror, wherein the ferrous member isdisposed to magnetically attract to the first magnet when the slidermechanism is in the stowed position and is disposed to magneticallyattract to the second magnet when the slider is in the use position. 17.The vehicle overhead console of claim 16, wherein the male memberscomprise a pair of bars that are oppositely disposed inside the storagespace and are each configured to slideably engage a correspondingslotted rail of the slider mechanism.
 18. The vehicle overhead consoleof claim 16, wherein the conversation mirror is separate and distinctfrom a rearview mirror and is positioned forward of the rearview mirrorwhen the conversation mirror is viewed from a passenger seated in apassenger compartment.
 19. The vehicle overhead console of claim 16,further comprising a protective cover separate from the housing anddisposed within the storage space, wherein the protective cover isshaped to cover the conversation mirror when the slider mechanism is inthe stowed position.